What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, commonly known as HBOT, is a medical treatment where patients breathe pure oxygen inside a specialized hyperbaric chamber at atmospheric pressure levels 1.5 to 3 times higher than normal. Oxygen is the most important nutrient our tissues need to function; it is essential to every cell in our body. The air we breathe is 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) utilizes oxygen in a pressurized environment. This increased pressure allows your body to absorb higher concentrations of oxygen improving cellular functions. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is an excellent adjunct therapy to complement and enhance the healing process in both chronic and acute conditions.
Hbot Treatment Process (The HBOT Chamber)
During HBOT treatment, Patient enters either a single-person or multi-person hyperbaric oxygen chamber, where the increased pressure allows lungs to gather significantly more oxygen than breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure. This oxygen-rich blood then circulates throughout the body, promoting healing and fighting infection in ways that normal oxygen levels cannot achieve. The HBOT chamber creates an environment where oxygen dissolves directly into all body fluids like plasma, central nervous system fluids, lymph, and bone reaching areas with reduced or blocked blood flow. Originally developed for treating decompression sickness in divers, hyperbaric medicine has evolved into a recognized therapy for numerous FDA-approved conditions. Each HBOT session typically lasts 60 to 120 minutes, during which patients can rest comfortably while the pressurized oxygen works at the cellular level to stimulate healing. What makes hyperbaric oxygen treatment unique is its ability to deliver oxygen concentrations up to 15 times higher than normal to damaged tissues, triggering the body’s natural healing mechanisms in ways standard medical treatments cannot replicate.
FDA-Approved Uses for Hyperbaric Chamber Treatment
The FDA has carefully evaluated and approved hyperbaric chamber treatment for the following specific medical conditions, each backed by substantial clinical evidence. Whether used as a primary HBOT treatment or combined with other therapies, these pressurized oxygen sessions can mean the difference between life and death, keeping or losing a limb, or finally healing wounds that have resisted treatment for months. Understanding which conditions respond to hyperbaric chamber to heal wounds and tissues helps patients and healthcare providers make informed decisions about when this powerful therapy is the right choice.
Lifesaving HBOT Treatment Applications
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Air and gas bubbles in blood vessels (arterial gas embolism)
- Decompression sickness (diving risk)
- Gas gangrene
- Severe anemia (when blood transfusions cannot be used)
Limb-Saving Hyperbaric Therapy
- Crush injury
- Severe infection of the skin and bone (osteomyelitis)
- Wounds (non-healing, diabetic foot ulcers)
- Skin graft flap at risk of tissue death
Tissue-Saving Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
- Severe and large burns (treated at specialized burn centers)
- Radiation injury
- Vision loss (sudden and painless in one eye due to blockage of blood flow)
- Hearing loss (complete hearing loss occurring suddenly without known cause)
Other Studied (Non Approved) HBOT Treatments
- COVID-19 (currently being studied, not FDA-approved)
- Additional conditions in clinical trials
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Sports injuries
- Strokes
Discover what it is like inside a hyperbaric chamber and how hyperbaric oxygen therapy could transform your health. Watch our latest short youtube reel to learn more.
Hyperbaric Treatment Costs
HBOT hyperbaric therapy cost $99 per session at Renew Integrative Health, Newark, Delaware
Understanding hyperbaric treatment costs is essential when considering HBOT therapy for your medical condition. The cost of HBOT therapy varies significantly based on several factors including geographic location, facility type, and the specific condition being treated. Individual HBOT treatment cost typically ranges from $99 to $500 per session, with most patients requiring 8 to 20 sessions for a complete treatment protocol. At hospital-based facilities, hyperbaric cost per session often exceeds $1,500, while standalone hyperbaric centers may offer sessions between $99 and $500. The total cost of HBOT therapy can therefore range from $4,000 to $16,000 for a full treatment course. Facility accreditation, chamber type (monoplace vs. multiplace), and physician supervision requirements all influence pricing. Some centers offer package deals or payment plans to help manage the financial burden, making treatment more accessible for patients who need this therapeutic option.
Insurance Coverage for HBOT therapy
Insurance coverage for hyperbaric oxygen therapy remains limited to FDA-approved conditions. Medicare and most private insurers typically cover HBOT for the 13 approved uses including diabetic wounds, decompression sickness, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Patients seeking treatment for off-label conditions like long COVID, autism, or sports injuries usually face out-of-pocket expenses. Prior authorization is often required even for covered conditions, and documentation of medical necessity is crucial for approval. Some patients successfully appeal initial denials with supporting documentation from their healthcare providers.
The benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
- Increased energy
- Reduces pain and swelling
- Boosts collagen production
- Promotes tissue repair and wound healing
- Reduces the effects of harmful bacteria and toxins
Conditions that may benefit from Hyperbaric
Current off-label uses:
- Dementia / Alzheimer’s
- Fibromyalgia
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Lyme Disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Neuropathy
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Autism
- Hearing loss
- Post stroke
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Post surgical healing
What to expect with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
During pressurization, you may feel like your ears need to pop, much like being on an airplane. You will be guided through techniques to help you alleviate the pressure. The pressurization phase takes approximately 5-10 minutes. During the next 60 minutes, you may watch a video, read a book or relax and take a nap. As the chamber depressurizes, you may notice crackling in the ears. Following your dive, you may experience less pain and improved sleep. The overall results vary depending on the underlying condition and the amount of consecutive sessions that have been completed.
How to prepare for your visit?
Following the completion of your medical history, diet log and current symptoms through our EMR portal, patients must also include the previous two years of medical testing including all labs, diagnostic studies such as ultrasound, thermography, and bone scans if applicable. Your initial consultation will include an extensive history, including family history and physical examination. Risks and benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy will be discussed and whether the therapy is appropriate will be determined at this time.